10 Jobs Where Being Bilingual Is Unexpectedly Important

Your boss and your abuela will be happy.

By
Monika Fabian

Nov 18, 2014

Getty Images

We all know how happy it makes our abuelas to hear us speak Spanish every now and then. But the ability to speak a second language is much more than that. Studies have shown that being bilingual affects how we consume culture. In other words, it informs how we interact with the world. So it should come as no surprise that being bilingual can also be essential and advantageous in our professional careers — beyond the usual sectors (i.e., education, interpretation, tourism/hospitality). Here are 10 unexpected jobs where being bilingual is super important.

1. Writer. It's almost so obvious that it's surprising again. But being fluent in a second language is extremely useful for all sorts of writerly pursuits. In creative writing such as poetry and fiction, bilingual writers translate works in foreign languages to make them available to new audiences of readers. For journalists, speaking another language helps with research, conducting interviews, and even writing whole articles for non-English media. And bilingual copywriters are indispensable in creating product advertisements in other languages too.

2. Librarian. In today's multilingual, multicultural society, it isn't enough for a librarian to maintain monolingual shelves. A library in 2014 has to be a dynamic community resource. Librarians are responsible for engaging English and non-English speakers, as well as remaining attuned to their diverse needs. They order books and media in other languages, and even plan bilingual and multilingual programming. One great example is the New York Public Library, where neighborhood branches in Hispanic communities often host Spanish-language writers' groups and free English as a Second Language classes.

3. Labor organizer. Foreign-born, non-English-speaking workers are historically among the most exploited segments of the labor force in the U.S. They're underpaid and overworked, often in dangerous environments, by employers who take advantage of their limited English proficiency and often precarious legal status. Bilingual labor activists aim to educate exploited and un-unionized workers of their rights. They help them organize to collectively bargain for improvements in the workplace. A famous symbol of bilingual organizing is "Sí, Se Puede" ("Yes, We Can"), the iconic motto of the United Farm Workers union, co-founded by celebrated activists Cesar Cesar and Dolores Huerta.

4. Dietician/Nutritionist. Obesity is a national epidemic: According to the Center for Disease Control, 17 percent of children and teens (or 12.7 million citizens in the U.S.) and 35 percent of adults (78.6 million) are obese. At 22 percent obesity, Latinos children fare worse than their Caucasian (14.1 percent), Asian (8.6 percent), and African-American (20.2 percent) counterparts. Hispanic men (42.5 percent) are only second to African-American men (47.8 percent) in obesity rates, but ahead of whites (32.6 percent) and Asians (10.8 percent). As a result of these alarming rates, bilingual dieticians and nutritionists are increasingly found on staff at health care centers throughout the country. They provide healthy eating and exercise advice to overweight patients.

5. Marketing Executive. As the U.S. economy becomes more globalized and companies break into new markets in regions like Latin America, executives who can speak to customers in their native languages are increasingly needed. And the same goes for companies here at home: According to AdAge, Proctor & Gamble and AT&T were among the top 50 U.S. companies that spent a total of $8.3 billion last year in media-spending geared toward Hispanic consumers. These businesses rely on bilingual marketers to craft culturally savvy promotional content and campaigns for their products.

6. Small Business Owner. Knowing a second language can easily translate to fuller bottom lines for owners. Being bilingual can expand an owner's network, labor, and clientele pool, as well as sales potential. Advertisements in more than one language may attract twice as many consumers — namely, those who prefer conducting business in their language and in familiar terms. Being a bilingual business owner can also mean increased access to overseas markets and more supply sources.

7. Human Resource Specialist. Latinos are projected to become 16 percent (or 66.3 million) of the U.S. population and 19 percent of the United States labor force by the year 2020. Human resource specialists will increasingly be tasked with recruiting and staffing organizations with diverse, and most likely bilingual, talent that mirrors the country's changing demographics. These specialists are also in charge of administering benefits, handling payroll, and maintaining employee relations. HR specialists can handle labor union contacts and make sure companies comply with local, state, and federal regulations.

8. Mental Health Professional. Imagine you decide to start seeing a therapist — only your sessions are held in a language that isn't your first one. Even if you're fluent in both tongues, speaking with a professional in another language pales in comparison to baring your soul and expressing yourself in your native tongue. Yet sadly, that's a reality for many non-native speakers. Bilingual counselors and therapists are in short supply in many parts of the country. So much so that there's even been discussion in academia about how to address this pressing need.

9. Court Reporter. You've seen them on TV and movies or maybe even in court: the person typing quietly into a small, typewriter-like device for the duration of a court case. That's the court reporter, and he or she is responsible for transcribing and producing a full record of a legal proceeding. Bilingual court reporters are in high demand in the field because of their fluency.

Requirements to become a court reporter vary by state. In New York, for example, aspiring reporters must complete a training program and be able to type at least 225 words per minute in order to break into the field.

10. Social Worker. Social workers deliver vital support services to abuse victims, the homeless, and other populations in need. They work in the community — in places like schools, hospitals, and shelters — to be closer to their clients. But in order for social workers to assist people, they have to be able to communicate effectively with them. Removing a language barrier is a key first step in ensuring that social workers understand the issues at hand and, more importantly, that their clients feel understood.

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